Ukraine invasion: Australian PM calls on China to denounce Putin, sanction Russia instead offering ‘economic lifeline’

Name: Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war
Uploaded: 2022-03-07T05:44:47.000Z
Duration: 4 min 33 s
Description: Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Beijing should use ‘growing power’ to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and join in sanctioning Moscow

Morrison says he is concerned that China will become an ‘economic lifeline’ to Russia, noting Beijing’s rhetoric on the conflict has been passive so far

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says China should sanction Russia and denounce its invasion of Ukraine. Photo: DPA

Mia Castagnone

Published: 1:44pm, 7 Mar 2022Updated: 4:50pm, 9 Mar 2022

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday called for China to apply economic sanctions on Russia and denounce Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as other nations in the Indo-Pacific region have done.

Speaking in Sydney at an event organised by the Lowy Institute think tank, Morrison said the invasion presented China’s government with a choice: if Beijing is committed to global peace, there must be more action than just words.

“China’s growing power and influence is a geostrategic fact … what we care about is how Beijing uses its strength.

“At this hinge point in history, [China’s leaders] must demonstrate these are more than just words.”

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Ukraine says Russia violates ceasefire as Putin warns no-fly zone would be declaration of war

This should be done by placing economic sanctions on Russia and denouncing Moscow’s actions like other Indo-Pacific powers, according to Morrison.